Middle Bay Fishing Charters
www.misskarencharterfishing.com
Rappahannock River
Croaker fishing remains excellent according to Capt. Dick Whitehill aboard Miss Karen’s Fishing. Stripers are not cooperating. Flounder and Spanish mackerel should be appearing soon. A trip with Capt. Whitehill makes an outstanding Fathr’s Day present. Call him at 434-960-5411
Virginia Beach
Dr. Julie Ball
The summer saltwater scene is coming together nicely, making the lingering setbacks of the harsh winter but a mere memory. Now, anglers are turning their attention to a great start to the warm water fishing season, with many species right on track. It looks like it’s going to be a good summer.
The arrival of the local summertime staple has everyone’s attention. Cobia are pouring into local waters, with some really big fish already making a showing. Jamal Esfahani of Virginia Beach boated the fish of a lifetime when a 90-pound early season stud took his frozen bunker for a run as Jamal had been targeting drum off the Eastern Shore. Scattered catches of all sizes of cobia all around the lower Bay is just the beginning as these fish settle in for the season.
Anglers continue to experience very good drum action on the Eastern Shore side of the lower Bay. Huge red drum continue to roam the shoals off Fisherman’s Island and Nautilus Shoal, with more fish now hitting on the Nine Foot Shoal area near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Black drum are still hitting along the shoals near buoys 10, 13 and 16, where chowder clams and sea clams are the top baits. Although we are on the downward trend for black drum on the shoals, they are still available for those willing to put in some time.
Flounder action in Bay waters is evolving slowly at best, as anglers struggle for catches in lower Bay waters this week. Folks are having some luck around the 2nd and 3rd islands and tubes, and near the bend at the 3rd island of the CBBT, near buoy 36A, and Back River Reef. Rudee and Lynnhaven Inlets are providing some decent action, depending on the day. The best flatfish catches continue to come from the shallows on the Eastern Shore, with locations in Wachapreague and Oyster still leading the way. Limits of fish pushing to over 21-inches are common lately from these areas.
Sheepshead are making a low-key introduction, as sporadic reports trickle in of mostly incidental hook-ups by drum anglers, with some nice fish pushing to over 10-pounds making a great early season debut. Spadefish are still available at the Chesapeake Light Tower as well as some inshore wrecks, with scattered reports of catches of 3 to 5-pounders last week.
Captain Jake Hiles, skipper of the ‘Matador’ out of Rudee Inlet, shared accounts of several really big shark releases during a trip aboard his boat this week, including tiger sharks stretching to over 9-feet long, and even a nerve-racking great white shark hook-up.
Rudee, Lynnhaven and Little Creek Inlets are a good source of some respectable puppy drum catches right now. Several Peninsula backwater locations and the Eastern Shore inlets and shallows are also providing some pup action lately.
Croaker are a favorite for pier anglers, with small to medium-sized hardheads still taking squid and bloodworm offerings off the Virginia Beach Ocean front, Ocean View, Willoughby and Buckroe. The lower Bay inlets are also hosting a few croaker, with decent sized sea mullet also in the mix.
For those venturing to deeper water, keeper-sized sea bass are biting on several wrecks, with a few pushing to over 4-pounds. Further out, deep-dropping is still a good choice. For those fishing on the bottom near the Norfolk Canyon, big tilefish, with a smattering of grouper, wreckfish, and black bellied rosefish are providing good results. Big sea bass are still a welcome by-catch in these areas.
Finally, the Virginia offshore scene is finally taking off with the arrival of tuna this week. Boats venturing out to blue water are returning with bounties of quality yellowfin tuna, along with gaffer Mahi. Some nice bigeye tuna are also busting spreads, with scattered catches of fish ranging to over 200-pounds hitting the docks this week.
Nags Head
TW’s Report June 4
Surf Fishing Report:
It is another rainy day. No news from Wednesday but fishing conditions are good today for surf fishing. There should be sea mullet and blues. The wind is NE at 11 and the water temp is 64 degrees.
On Wednesday, the Little Bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway reported croakers and small trout. There were black drum and sheepshead caught from the Bonner Bridge catwalk.
Pier Fishing Report:
Avalon Pier: Mullet and bluefish. Water temp is 66 degrees.
Nags Head: Blues.
Jennette’s: Spanish, sea mullet, bluefish and a 31-inch cobia. Water temp is 71 degrees.
Outer Banks Pier: Blues, Spanish and early morning sea mullet. Water temp is 70 degrees.
Near shore boats are bringing in bluefish and Spanish. The inshore boats are catching sea mullet and bluefish.
Offshore: Despite the weather, there are a lot of fish cleaning going on. Plenty of Mahi-Mahi, big-eye tuna and good catches of yellowfin.
Hatteras Surf
On Wednesday, Ramps 38 and 55 had big bluefish running from 8 to 12 lbs. There were pompano and sea mullet caught at ramps 55 and 49. Ramp 45 had Spanish. Avon had sea mullet and spot.
On Tuesday, Ramp 43 anglers beached some sea mullet and a couple of Spanish. Ramp 49 produced pompano and sea mullet. Ramp 55 anglers scored with small flounder, sea mullet and pompano. Cobia are still around. There are lots of puppy drum in the sound.
Hatteras Offshore
Capt. Dave Wilson reports: On Wednesday, fishing was still scrappy, but with persistence, we were able to put together a pretty decent catch of dolphin, mostly gaffers.. See you guys in October!
On Tuesday, we had more bites today, but the fish didn’t seem aggressive. We still landed a handful of dolphin, including a citation 37-pounder.
FRESHWATER
Stripers Biting at Buggs
The stripers at Buggs Island Lake have returned from their spawning run up into the Dan and Staunton rivers and they’re hungry, says Bobby Whitlow at Bobcat’s Store in Clarksville.
Bobby says some anglers are fishing at night with a variety of lures, including topwater, shallow and mid-diving crankbaits. In the day, especially on cloudy days, successful anglers are trolling with umbrella rigs and putting nice stripers on ice.
The crappie have moved to deep docks and deep brush piles. Bobby said the shad are spawning now near bridges, drawing the keen interest of crappie anglers.
Bass are scattered. Some are still shallow, raiding bluegill nests and feeding on the spawning shad. Some have moved out to the main lake in deeper water. Flatheads are being caught, but it’s patchy as many are spawning and somewhat cantankerous. The lake is at normal pool and in the mid-80’s. Overall, it’s pretty good fishing for all species at Buggs Island Lake.
Trout Streams
Stocking is over for the spring season of 2015, but there are still plenty of trout in the streams and the recent rains have these waters in excellent condition.
Throughout the spring, high water has moved trout and spread them out, making it a little more difficult for the truck followers. The two best stocked streams – with lots of trout holding over – are the Jackson and Bull Pasture. The stretch of the Jackson below Gathright can be quite productive on lower water release days. Check with the Corp of Engineeers before you go.
The South River in Waynesboro remains one of the most consistent producing streams of all. Check in with South River Fly Shop (540-942-5566) for recommended fly selections.
The Valley streams are fishing well. The sulfurs are out and about on Mossy Creek. Take advantage of this extended fishery before summer’s heat arrives.
Lake Orange
On the lower end of the lake, the water is clear with temperatures in the upper 70’s while the upper end of the lake has stained water conditions. Bluegill and red ears are finishing up the spawn with this full moon. For this upcoming weekend a few fish will still be on the beds, but for the most part they will all be moving into their summer patterns. Largemouth bass have been schooling recently and chasing small baitfish in the upper end of the lake. The bass are being caught on top water as well as crank baits. Crappie are also in a post spawn mode hanging out in 10-12 ft. of water feeding on live minnows. Several nice walleyes have been caught this week, the biggest weighed 4.5 lbs. and was caught by Glenn Knight of Orange,. Catfishing has picked up with the warming water temperatures. Chicken liver and night crawlers are the baits of choice for the catfish bite. The upper end of the lake seems to be the most productive.
Contributed by Darrell Kennedy of Angler’s Landing (540-672-3997)
The Potomac Report
Time to Feed!
After a nice spawn, it’s time for Potomac River bass to eat. While a few spawning fish are around, the ones that spawned in the first week of May are recovering nicely and hitting a variety of baits.
The water is clearing and is near 80. A high near 90 start to the week with more pleasant temperatures the rest of the week. Chance of thunderstorms on Monday and Tuesday with a Chance of rain on Wednesday. Back into the mid 80s by the weekend.
With a bit of chop on the water, cloudy skies or some stained water, spinnerbaits are effective. Tie to 12-pound test GAMMA Edge fluorocarbon on a 6’10” or longer rod. Use an Indiana/Colorado combo and a white skirt. Smaller 1/4-ounce baits are better at lower tides. Beef up to a 3/8-ounce bait for higher tides. In the same areas, try bladed jigs with a Mann’s Reel N Shad trailer.
Squarebill crankbaits are effective on 12-pound Edge test too! Try the Lucky Craft 1.5 in chartreuse patterns. Mann’s Baby 1-Minus is very good over wood and grass. Vary the speed to trigger strikes.
It’s also topwater time! Lucky Craft G Splash poppers and walking Gunfish are perfect for low tides, or low light conditions. Use the black Gunfish and more natural patterned poppers.
Pitch plastics like Mizmo tubes in green pumpkin patterns Texas rigged on a Mustad 3/0 Mega Bite hook on fluorocarbon line around wood and grass. A soaking in Jack’s Juice will encourage fish to hold on longer.
Capt. Steve Chaconas is a guide on the Potomac River. info@nationalbass.com
Lake Anna Report
Guide Chris Craft
The first official day of summer is not until June 21, but you can’t tell by the humidity, air temps and afternoon thunder storms. The weekend summer crowd is here and the fishing is really heating up as well. The top water bite is in full swing for both bass and striper and many times can be found in the same areas.
The bass are full blown post spawn now and are aggressively taking top water baits early in the morning. Look for them to be chasing Blue Back Herring for the first couple of hours in the morning. Damiki MTB Noisy Crankbaits, Damiki Walking Biats, Paycheck baits, and Cordell Broken Back Refins are all great choices for exploding top water action.
After the top water action slows down it is time to pick up a shakey head or wacky rig. Fish boat docks, rocks, bridges and brush piles. Shakey Heads rigged with Zoom Trick Worms, Deep Creek Lures 6″ MT Worm & finesse worms work great. Green Pumpkin, Watermelon and Junebug are very popular colors that work great. Look for the fish to be in 6-12 feet of water for most of the month. Towards the end of the month, most of the fish will migrate to deeper water, sometimes even more that 20 feet.
The crappie have moved back out to the bridge pilings and deep brush piles for the summer. The best way to catch them will be with small-medium minnows rigged on a slip bobber. They can be found anywhere fro 10-25 feet of water. Do not look for the to return to the shallows until fall when the water temps start falling into the mid 60’s.
Look for the stripers in the mid lake region down to about Dike 1 all month long. At first light you can find them chasing baitfish and can catch the on top. Walking baits, Broken Back Redfins and jerkbaits will all catch fish. After the morning feed is over, look for schools on your electronics and drop Toothache Spoons to them.
Trolling is also becoming very effective as the summer draws closer. Deep Diving Redfins with a bucktail trailer, Bill Norman DD22’s and BPS LEC 15’s are all great baits for trolling.
For the anglers that want to use live bait, Blue Back Herring is very plentiful this year. You will need to get out before daylight breaks and hang lights to attract the bait.
Lake Level- Full Pool
Water Clarity
Up Lake- Stained
Mid Lake- Clear
Down Lake- Clear
Water Temps
Up Lake- upper 70’s – low 80’s
Mid Lake- upper 70’s – low 80’s
Down Lake- mid 80’s
Chickahominy Lake
Capt. Art Conway of Conway’s River Rat Guide Service (804-746-2475) out of Ed Allen’s Boats and Bait reported that Chickahominy Lake mid-day water temperatures were in the mid to high 70’s in the main lake and in the major creeks on Wednesday (6/3/2015). The lake level was slightly above the top of the dam. The water was moderately brown and quite cloudy in the lower lake.
Blue cats were scattered throughout the lake and creeks and were hitting live minnows and cut bait. Moderate numbers of crappie were in loose schools in the main lake on deeper flats and channel edges, frequently near creek mouths, usually at depths of 6 to 12 feet. A few crappie were scattered singly or in small schools on shallow to mid-depth cypress knees, wood cover, and shoreline weed beds in the main lake and in mouths of major creeks. Active crappie were hitting live minnows, Wright Bait Co. curlytail jigs, small tubes, Kalin crappie scrubs, and small swim baits. Some small to medium yellow perch were scattered in some creeks and on main lake shoreline flats and were hitting live minnows and small jigs. Some nice bluegill were scattered and in small aggregates near shorelines in some areas near mouths in major creeks and in the main lake and were hitting live crickets and worms, flies, and small tubes and jigs. Some bass and pickerel were on lily pad flats and along shorelines in major creeks and in shallow bays in the main lake and were hitting live minnows, spinnerbaits, swim baits, stick worms, and jigs.
Fishing with Capt. Conway, Jeff, Jeffrey, and Jacob Stiff had 24 bluegill, 1 crappie, and 2 bass. Carolyn Conway had 14 bluegill. Tom Porter had 15 bluegill, 1 flier, 7 crappie, and 2 yellow perch.
Top New River
Fishing conditions are excellent on the Top New, Mouth of Wilson to Fries. Water clarity is at least 5 feet and levels are about average and dropping slowly. It is that time of year when you can use about anything in your tackle box. Summertime conditions are here. Enjoy your time on the water. Go to newrivertrips.com for trip information or call Richie at New River Trips (276) 236-5492 or (276) 235-2514 (cell).